Microsoft Xbox 180: U-Turn After Sony PS4 Thrashing

XBox One gets loose on gaming rules in the wake of Sony's PS4 announcement.

Now gamers can "trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games," Don Mattrick, President, Interactive Entertainment Business has revealed.

Microsoft's radical u-turn on gaming rules for Xbox One comes days after it announced stringent rules on usage/ trading of older games and the need for Internet connection once a day for offline gaming.

In a blog post entitled "your Feedback matters" Mattrick announced major changes to Xbox gaming policy;

"An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games," he said "After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. "

Xbox One, unveiled at E3, was named and shamed by Sony who said it would not restrict the use or trading of older games on the new PS4, and outpriced, provoking a major backlash from the gamers.

The annoying need for Xbox One to have Internet connection every 24 hours is also no longer:

"There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360."

There will be "no limitations" to using and sharing games, 'One' will work just as it does today on Xbox360, Mattrick advised.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, gamers can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. and can still lay them offline.

"Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions. "

However, far from being influenced by its arch rival, Mattrick insists the dramatic changes was all about gamers 'feedback'.

"Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback."